Environmental Monitoring Report

Project Number: 38255-02 September 2008

IND: State Road Investment Program (Subproject 1)

Prepared by

Project Management Unit, Public Works Department, Government of Uttarakhand

For Executing Agency

Public Works Department, Government of Uttarakhand, Uttarakhand

This report has been submitted to ADB by the PMU (ADB (Transport)/Public Works Department), Dehradun, Uttarakhand and is made publicly available in accordance with ADB’s public communications policy (2005). It does not necessarily reflect the views of ADB.

Uttarakhand State Road Investment Programme

Environmental Progress Report - 2 (April, 2008 – September, 2008) ------

Prepared

By

Dr. Vinay Kumar Yadav (Environmental Specialist)

Project Management Unit (Asian Development Bank) Public Works Department) 19, Siddharth Enclave, GMS Road - Dehradun

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CONTENTS

ABBREVIATIONS………………………………………………………………………..1 1. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………3 1.1 Project Description/Background………………………………………………….3 1.2 EMP at Various Stages of Phase –I……………………………………………….5

2. ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT…………………………………………6 2.1 Key Environmental Issues to be reviewed FURTHER…………………………….6 2.2 Photographs during implementation of work……………………………………....17 2.3 Coverage Objectives………………………………………………………………..22 2.4 Methodology Adopted……………………………………………………………...22 2.5 Environmental Statutory Clearances……………………………………………….23 2.6 Removal of trees along the ROW…………………………………………………..23 2.7 NOC of SFD & SPCB……………………………………………………………..23

3. IMPLEMENTATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARD DURING CONSTRUCTION…………………………………………………………...26 3.1 Setting up site office & construction camp………………………………………...26 3.2 Mobilization of resources…………………………………………………………. 26 3.3 Site Clearing………………………………………………………………………..26

4. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS………………………………………30

List of Tables

Table No Title Page No 1. Project Background and Progress of Phase – I roads under 8 ‘USRIP’ Project 2. Status of Compliances to Environmental Issues Addressed in the 10 Generic Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan (Annex A), Volume-I (Condition of Contract) of Contract Documents of (Package – I) Garhwal Zone 3. Status of Compliances to Environmental Issues Addressed in the 12 Environmental Management Plan (Package – II) Kumaon Zone 4. Date of signing and name of firms for civil work construction 22 5. Compensation Paid for Forest Clearance under Phase – I 24 6. Amount paid for administration fee to process the NOC 25 (pollution clearance) to ‘SPCB’ under Phase – I 7. Assessment of Contractors Activities at Construction Stage of 28 Phase – I

A B B R E V I A T I O N S

ADB : Asian Development Bank APL : Above Poverty Line BPL : Below Poverty Line CSC : Construction Supervision Consultant DDP : Desert Development Programme DFO : Divisional Forest Officer DPR : Detailed Project Report EAG : Environmental Assessment Guidelines EIA : Environmental Impact Assessment EMP : Environmental Management Plan EPA : Environmental Protection Act FCA : Forest Conservation Act GOI : Govt. of GOU : Government of Uttarakhand HMP : Hot Mix Plant IEE : Initial Environmental Examination IMEC : Independent Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant IPDF : Indigenous People Development Framework IPDP : Indigenous People Development Plan LAA : Land Acquisition Act (1894) LVRs : Light Vehicle Roads MDRs : Major District Roads MFF : Multitrance Financing Facility MoEF : Ministry of Environment and Forest MoRTH : Ministry of Road Transport and Highways NGO : Non-Governmental Organization NHs : National Highways NOC : No Objection Certificate ODRs : Other District Roads PAFs : Project Affected Families PFR : Periodic Financing Request PFS : Pre-Feasibility Study PIU : Project Implementation Unit PMU : Project Management Unit PPE : Personal Protective Equipment PPR : Preliminary Project Report PRA : Participatory Rural Appraisal PWD : Public Works Department QAP : Quality Assurance Plan ROW : Right-of-Way SEIA : Summary of Environmental Impact Assessment SFD : State Forest Department

1 SHs : State Highways SOS : Strategic Option Study SPCB : State Pollution Control Board SPRSS : Summary of Poverty Reduction and Social Strategy SFD : State Forest Department ST : Schedule Tribe USRIP : Uttarakhand State Road Improvement Programme VR ` : Village Road

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UTTARAKHAND STATE ROAD INVESTMENT PROGRAMME

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING REPORT

1. INTRODUCTION The Public Works Department (PWD) of Government of Uttarakhand has initiated Uttarakhand State Road Investment Programme (USRIP) to implement the up-gradation and improvement work of various identified road stretches in the state of Uttarakhand for capacity augmentation for safe and efficient movement of traffic through loans from Asian Development Bank (ADB). The ADB Loan was provided by using Multitrance Financing Facility (MFF). The first project or Phase I of the MFF was approved on 2 January 2007.

1.1 Project Description/Background Out of thirteen districts of Uttarakhand, the Phase – I of ‘USRIP’ Project is running in eleven districts (except two districts i.e. Tehri and Haridwar). There are a total of 23 road sections that have been taken under Phase - I of ‘USRIP’ project. Out of them, 9 roads fall in the Package – I (Garhwal Zone) while 14 roads are in Package – II (Kumaon Zone) Table - 1. A total of 573 km were to be improved out of which one road (Pauri-Khirsu-Srinagar road) has been deleted because this section has already been improved by the state government. Out of the remaining 8 road sections of Package – I (Garhwal Zone), 7 roads are other district roads (ODRs) and 1 (Kalsi - Chakrata) is the major district road (MDR).

In Package – II (Kumaon Zone), 14 road stretches are spread over 6 districts of the state namely , Bageshwar, Champawat, , Pithoragarh and Udham Singh Nagar. Out of the 14 road sections, 3 roads pass through fertile plains of Himalayan foothills in Udham Singh Nagar district, which covers 49.6 km length. Out of these 14 road sections, 3 roads are state highway (137.2 km length), 2 roads are Major District roads (length 75.90 km), 4 roads are Other District roads (length 66.20 km) and the rest 5 roads are Village roads (length 62.30 km). All of the roads are bituminous road except a non-bituminous stretch of

3 road length 16.70 km of Betalghat – Bhatrojkhan. Finally, the total length to be improved in the Phase - I remains about 556 km. All the identified project roads stretches are located in the State of Uttarakhand, except 2 km stretch of Dhakia-Gulabo-Mukundpur-Paiga (Udham Singh Nagar) road which passes through the adjoining Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh. The maintenance work of this particular section is also carried out by the Public Works Department of Uttarakhand. The seven contracts have been awarded and one is under progress (Map - 1).

All the roads under the Package I and roads under Package II for contract I, IA, II, III, V, VI, VII, VIII, and IX were categorized as a “B” project under ADB environmental categorization, and therefore it will required environmental monitoring report annually. The road connecting Almora to Bageshwar under the contract VII, and Barechina to Sheraghat under the contract VIII were categorized as an “A” project under the ADB, and therefore biannual environmental monitoring report is submitting to ADB.

4 1.2 EMP at Various Stages of Phase –I

Contract - 1A

Contract - 1

Contract - 6

Contract - 2

Contract - 3

Contract - 9

Contract - 8

Contract - 7

Contract - 5

Map - 1: Showing District-wise Contracts under Phase – I of ‘USRIP’ Project

5 2. ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS REPORT

During this period (April - September 2008), Environmental Specialist of CSC was mobilised to all the contract package sites. Site visits were made to all the contract packages along with Engineer’s representatives as well as Contractor’s representatives. Various on going works were reviewed and photographic evidences of various activities were recorded for reporting. During visits to the contract packages, meetings were held with each of the Contractors representatives and information were sought on various aspects w.r.t compliances to various clauses of EMP to be reported periodically. During meetings the various issues reviewed and instructed to Contractors for their early compliances are:

Intimating the CSC about setting up of campsites and with the detailed layout as well as furnishing the details of campsites in the prescribed Form P 7.2 of the EMP. Practicing and maintaining Traffic and Safety management in each of the CD structures under construction as well as road works. Following up towards Obtaing NOC/Consent to operate for Hot Mix Plants. Providing First aid facility in each active construction sites besides the campsites. Periodical reporting to the CSC in the prescribed formats of EMP. Waste oil and lubricants containment, storage/handling. Water testing to judge the suitability of water source for drinking purpose. Conducting HIV/AIDS awareness programme. To carry out Environmental Monitoring. To improve upon the House keeping at each of the campsites. Waste handling and their disposal and in case of suitability, their reuse. Procurement, distribution and use of PPEs. 2.1 Key Environmental Issues to be reviewed FURTHER During the field visits of Environmental Specialist of CSC and his interaction with the Contractor’s representatives, various non-compliances were observed. Compliances to those identified issues are the pre-requisite of the project. Below listed are the few of the issues to be reviewed further as their compliances is of utmost priority while implementing the project. All the contractors have been instructed to take up proactive initiatives towards their early compliances else

6 these will be viewed as contractual violations considering the CONSIDERABLE LAPSE of time after mobilization of the contractor. However, in all the contract packages, work is in progress. Hence, each of the following issues compliances will be reviewed in the approaching month. • Status of obtaining NOCs for each of the Hot Mix Plants. • Toilets in each of the campsites and sanitation facilities in each campsite. • Adequacy of safety provisions, use of PPEs adopted during construction work in progress, particularly in CD construction sites as well as Hot mix worksites. • Debris generated from landslides as well demolitions during construction and their safe disposal. • First Aid provisions made by each of the Contractors and conduction of HIV/AIDS awareness programmes. • Environmental monitoring. • Drinking water quality through water testing.

Presented below are the various information on Campsite establishment, amenities provided in each of the campsites, status of manpower and machinery mobilization, status of obtaing permission from various authorities, status and practices adopted for borrow areas operation and waste management. The reported format has been followed from the Environmental Management Plan, which will reflect a comparative status on compliances to each of the clauses of the Environmental Management Plan as part of the Final IEE report & EMP. The information furnished is gathered from Contractors time to time as well as what has been observed through site visits. Being the end of quarter reporting, this may be treated as a summarized status of compliances to each contractual obligation.

7 Table - 1: Project Background and Progress of Phase – I roads under ‘USRIP’ Project S.No. Contract(s) District(s) Road From Road To Category Length Physical Progress (up to September (Km) 2008) Package – I (Garhwal Zone) 1 Contract - I Dehradun Kalsi Chakrata MDR 41.565 Mobilization of resources, site clearances, est. of construction camps and site office. 2 Uttarkashi Kuwa Kafnol ODR 47.546 Mobilization of 3 Contract - Naugaon Purola ODR 17.89 resources, site IA clearances, est. of construction camps and site office. 4 Pauri Fatehpur Lansdowne ODR 21.807 Mobilization of resources, est. of 5 Contract - Pathrakhal Gethicheda ODR 17.985 construction camps, 6 II Pauri- Khirsu Srinagar Deleted site clearances, removal of vegetation in Fatehpur-Lansdown, transportation of stones & other materials at stone crashing site and other part of the project. Construction of cross drainages and retention walls. 7 Rudraprayag Jakholi Guptkashi ODR 14.375 Mobilization of resources, site 8 Contract - Rudraprayag Pokhri- ODR 14.512 clearances, est. of Karanprayag III construction camps and 9 Chamoli Nandprayag Ghat ODR 18.493 site office. Sub-total 194.173 Kms Package – II (Kumaon Zone) 10 Udhamsingh Jaitpur Dhanori ODR 10.80 Mobilization of resources, site 11 Contract - Nagar Dhakia- Mukundpur-Paiga ODR 25.00 clearances, est. of V Gulabo construction camps, site office, labeling of 12 Zafarpur Gularbhoj ODR 13.80 road surface, cross drainage, water supply, operation of machines in some part of the project 13 Nainital Ranikhet Mohan MDR 70.20 Mobilization of resources, site 14 Contract - Almora Betalghat Bhatrojkhan ODR 16.70 clearances, 15 VI Nathuakhan Suyalbadi VR 29.00 establishment of construction camps and

8 site office. 16 Contract - Almora Almora Bageshwar SH 72.90 Mobilization of resources, site VII clearances, establishment of construction camps and site office. 17 Almora & Barechhina Sheraghat SH 42.30 Mobilization of resources, site Contract - Bageshwar clearances, 18 VIII Pithoragarh UdiyariBend Kanda MDR 25.70 establishment of construction camps and 19 Udiyari Bend Thal SH 22.00 site office. 20 Contract - Champawat Pulla- Shilling VR 6.50 Mobilization of resources, site IX Chamdeol clearances, 21 Lohaghat Chaumel VR 7.50 establishment of construction camps and 22 Thuligarh Bhairav mandir VR 6.30 site office. 23 Kakrali Thuligarh VR 13.00 Sub-total 361.70 Kms Total 11 23 Roads 555.873 (1 Deleted) Districts Kms

9 Table 2: Status of Compliances to Environmental Issues Addressed in the Generic Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan (Annex A), Volume-I (Condition of Contract) of Contract Documents of (Package – I) Garhwal Zone

Activity Contract I Contract IA Contract II Contract III Remarks

Construction Stage Establishment Camp site has Camp site has Camp site has Camp site has All the Contractors and shifting of been been been been have been instructed construction established at established at established established at to submit the layout camps Vikasnagar. Naugaon between km km 3,km10, before the CSC as 10.0 to 16.0 on and km 16.0 on well as to furnish the The HMP plant The HMP plant road road Nanp details in the is located at is located at patharkhal- Paryag Ghat prescribed Appendix Dharamwala 8 19km on road Gethichheda road, IA to IC of Contract Km. from Kalsi Nagaon Parola and at km 17.0 At 47 -48 km documents. and approx 48 project site. on road Fateh on rd RP- The Contractors have km away from pur lans downe Pokhari- KP been ask to submit a Chakrata At km 11,14 copy of Consent-for- project site The HMP plant and km 16 on Operation (CFO) is located at 42 rd Jakholi- under Air and Water km away from Guptakashi Acts from the site on NH 119 Uttarakhand The HMP plant Environment is located at 12 protection and km away from Pollution Control Nand paryag. Board (UEPPCB) before start of commissioning and trial run. Removal of As the construction work is being carried out within formation width vegetation and available on ground, no tree cutting is anticipated. uprooting of trees Cutting of hill At present, excavated material as well as debris is being utilised for slope and earth pothole filling, and road surfacing work. Additions to this, the removal from Contractors have been instructed to identify for debris disposal sites for borrow areas dumping of landslide material as well as extra un-utilisable material as per the guideline given in appendix I-A. Contractors have been instructed to utilize scrap bitumen surfaces to strengthen access roads. Quarrying Aggregates are procured from established quarry sites and licensed quarried owned by 3rd parties. Crushing of The Contractor Contractor not The Contractor The Contractor All the Contractors stone and has a pre- yet finalised has a pre- has a pre- have been instructed transport of established the source . established established to submit the layout stone/ materials. campsite with temporary campsite with campsite with before the CSC as hot mix plant, proposed this hot mix plant, hot mix plant, well as to furnish the aggregate location at Bar aggregate aggregate details in the storage as well sai bagh. storage as well storage as well prescribed Appendix bitumen bitumen bitumen IA to IC of Contract storage and storage and storage and documents. intending to intending to intending to use the same use the same use the same site for this site for this site for this

10 Activity Contract I Contract IA Contract II Contract III Remarks

project too .The project too .The project too .The site is located site is located site is located for Aggregate at Km. at Km. The site source from Jawalapuri on is located at Bar sai Bagh NH58 for both Km. Jawalapuri proposed which the roads in this on NH58 for is 90 km from contract three roads Kalsi – under this Chakrata site contract Construction of Construction of Construction of Construction of Construction of line and cross line and cross line and cross line and cross line and cross drainage drainage drainage drainage drainage structures and structures. No structures. No structures. No structures. No bridges. major bridge major bridge major bridge major bridge exists in the exists in the exists in the exists in the project roads. 2 project roads. project roads. 1 project roads. nos minor no minor bridge bridge proposed to proposed to replace existing replace existing bridge. bridge. Construction of The project has The project has The project has The project has Retaining / a provision of a provision of a provision of a provision of Breast walls Retaining Wall Retaining Wall Retaining Wall Retaining Wall for approx 711 for approx 836 for approx 989 for approx 910 mtr and Breast mtr and Breast mtr and Breast mtr and Breast Wall for Wall 318 mtr. Wall for Wall for approx 586 approx 95 mtr. approx 783 mtr. mtr. Operation of Water for construction purposes is mainly drawn from streams, rivers All the Resident machinery and flowing in the project stretch. Also, bore well water is also utilized for Engineers have been equipment and construction purpose. discussed to check general Local Labour is being preferred. However, labour force has been hired the status of labour activities of from outside the state from Sub-Contractors. General working hours License obtained by labourers are restricted to 8.00 AM to 5.00 PM, including 1 hour. each of the Contractors Water supply Bore wells and Bore wells and Bore wells and Bore wells and Seasonal Seasonal Seasonal Seasonal streams along streams along streams along streams along the project the project the project the project stretch. stretch. stretch. stretch. Planning for Each of the Contractors have been instructed to develop detailed traffic Traffic control plans for each active work sites, seek approval of the plan from Movement CSC and implement the plan with special emphasis to CD locations, during night users and pedestrian users. Traffic cones, barricading, construction informatory sign boards are in place in each of the contract packages. work in Contractor has been instructed to use retro reflective appliances for progress night visibility Personal Safety However, PPEs in each of the contracts have been procured, Measures distributed; only few of the workers seem to be using those. Hence, adopted for each of the Contractors has been instructed to procure, distribute and Labourers motivate workers towards their use. Importance of PPEs at Hot mix work sites and Concrete work sites have been emphasized

11 Table 3: Status of Compliances to Environmental Issues Addressed in the Environmental Management Plan (Package – II) Kumaon Zone

EMP Clause Issues Contract-5 Contract-6 Contract-7 Contract-8 Contract-9 Remarks No. P.1 Pre-Construction Stage Campsite establishment, mobilization status of vehicles and machinery etc.

The Contractor Campsite is Campsite is The Contractor Nayagot All the has a pre- established located 800 has established Dipo no -3 Contractors have established at meters away two campsites 1. Near kakrali been instructed to campsite with Km.72+500 from Takula At Km.10+200 gate at submit the layout hotmix plant, at Mohan in Market & in Dhaulachina Ch.17+620 before the CSC aggregate a rented Village. on Barechina- as well as to Details of storage as well premise with Land has Sheraghat road furnish the details Location of bitumen existing been and 2. At in the prescribed Crushers, Hot storage and buildings. acquired Km.3+000 in format of EMP P.1.1 Mix Plant, intending to use since Chakori village P7.2 WMM Plant the same site 06.02.2008 on Udiyaribend- etc. for this project for the Kanda road. too.The site is campsite located at establishme Km.209 on nt NH74 LHS(Rudrapur- Kasipur)

Has been Has been Has been Has been Has been Immediately no Mobilization completed completed completed completed completed further of Other mobilization of Construction vehicles or any P.1.2 Vehicles, other equipment Equipments is not foreseen. and Incase of further Machinery mobilization, it will be reported.

Quarry sites Establishment, Labour force mobilization, arrangement of Construction water, disposal site selection, construction campsite establishment, Arrangement of temporary land, orientation programmes.

Aggregates are Aggregates Aggregates Aggregates are Aggregates No new quarry procured from are procured are procured procured from are procured has been opened established from from established from as part of the Status of quarry sites and established established quarry sites and established project activities. P.2 Quarry licensed quarry sites quarry sites licensed quarried quarry sites Establishment quarried owned and licensed and licensed owned bt 3rd and licensed bt 3rd parties. quarried quarried parties. quarried owned bt 3rd owned bt 3rd owned bt 3rd parties. parties. parties.

Arrangement Borewells Borewells Borewell in Borewell water Borewells and for Borewells/Cana and Kosi and the campsite and public water P.3 Seasonal streams Construction ls River Seasonal and rivers supply is being along the project Water: flowing at a streams criss cross used as drinking

12 Source, Km. along the stretch. the project water source. location diatance project stretch from the stretch. project road.

At present, At present, At present, At present, At present, All the excavated excavated excavated excavated excavated Contractors have material as well material as material as material as well material as been instructed to Status of Site as debris is well as well as as debris is being well as look for debris Identification being utilized debris is debris is utilized for debris is disposal sites for P.4 for Disposal of for pothole being being pothole filling. being dumping of Unsuitable filling. utilized for utilized for utilized for landslide material Materials pothole pothole pothole as well as extra filling. filling. filling. unutilisable material

Local Labour is Local Local Local Labour is Local All the Resident being preferred. Labour is Labour is being preferred. Labour is Engineers have However, being being However, labour being been discussed to labour force preferred. preferred. force have been preferred. check the status Labour have been hired However, However, hired from However, of labour License Requirements from outside labour force labour force outside the state labour force obtained by each P.5 and the state from have been have been from Sub- have been of the arrangements Sub- hired from hired from Contractors hired from Contractors. Contractors outside the outside the outside the state from state from state from Sub- Sub- Sub- Contractors Contractors Contractors

The Contractor Campsite is Campsite is The Contractor Camp site All the has a pre- established located 800 has established has been Contractors have established at meters away two campsites 1. established been instructed to campsite with Km.72+500 from Takula At Km.10+200 at Nayagot, submit the layout hotmixplant, at Mohan in Market & in Dhaulachina Dipo no -3, before the CSC aggregate a rented Village.Lan on Barechina- Near kakrali as well as to Status of storage as well premise with d has been Sheraghat road gate at furnish the details Construction bitumen existing acquired and 2. At Ch.17+620. in the prescribed Camp- storage and buildings. since Km.3+000 in format of EMP P.6 The HMP Location, intending to use HMP plant 06.02.2008 Chakori village plant is P7.2 Design and the same site is located At for the on Udiyaribend- located at Lay out for this project Totam campsite Kanda road. Khatima too.The site is villege (Km. establishme village located at 52), adjacent nt which is a 7 Km.209 on to the year old NH74 project road. establishme LHS(Rudrapur- nt Kasipur)

Borrow areas Camp site is Private Land HMP are HMP plant Contractors have are being hired established has been established on site is been instructed to Status of from third in a rented acquired land owned by look for waste Arrangements parties. premise. from 3rd temporaririly the land for disposal P.7 for Campsite is HMP plant parties and acquired from Contractor. of debris and Temporary owned by the is located on buildings are villagers. Houses Campsite other unsuitable Land Contractor. a rented hired for have been rented has been materials. House have land. accommodat for established

13 been rented for ion. accommodation on rented setting up of purpose. plot. Laboratory etc. Orientation of Training programmes were conducted on Contractual obligation W.R.T EMP implementation, Implementing Processes of EIA and EMP and processes of EMP implementation etc. Also, onsite guidances are P.8 Agency and imparted on sound construction technologies to be followed. the Contractors C.1 Site Clearance Generation of At present, excavated material as well as debris is being utilized for pothole filling. Also, All the Debris from Contractors have been instructed to look for debris disposal sites for dumping of landslide material as Dismantling well as extra unutilisable material. Contractors have been instructed to utilize scrap bitumen surfaces to C.1.1 Structures and strengthen access roads. Road Surfaces and their disposal status Disposal of Each of the Contractors has been instructed to look for disposal sites, plan and seek approval of CSC Other prior to operate the disposal site. C.1.2 Construction Waste-Site location , Plan Accessibility Each of the Contractors has been instructed to arrange adequate safety provisions for the safety of the for road users road users with special emphasis to night travelers. During construction work in progress, signboards during C.1.3 are places and signaling and guidance is provided to road users to avoid any such accidents. construction work in progress Planning for Each of the Contractors have been instructed to develop detailed traffic control plans for each active Traffic work sites, seek approval of the plan from CSC and implement the plan with special emphasis to CD Movement locations, night users and pedestrian users. Traffic cones, barricading, informatory sign boards are in C.1.4 during place in each of the contract packages. Contractor has been instructed to use retro reflective appliances construction for night visibility. work in progress C.2 Procurement of Construction material Status of Aggregates are procured from established quarry sites and licensed quarried owned bt 3rd parties. No C.2.1 Quarry new quarries have been opened as part of this project implementation. Operation Source of Water for construction purposes is mainly drawn from canals, streams, rivers flowing in the project C.2.2 Construction stretch. Also, borewell water is also utilized for construction purpose. Water C.3 Water Pollution Water No Construction work is being carried out close to any streams or water bodies. Contractors have been Pollution from instructed to locate, design and operate waste disposal sites to contain construction wastes. Also care is Construction being taken so that runoff of waste concrete does not enters water bodies. Contractor has been C.3.1 Wastes-The instructed to divert water flow through the campsites to avoid flowing of fines, aggregates, spilled arrangements oil/lubricants to the downstream. made to control Water Vehicles are maintained at workshops away from strems, channels and stagnant water bodies. Fuel and Pollution from C.3.2 lubricants are stored on solid platforms. However, incidences were observed revealing runoff water Fuel and flowing through campsites and carrying spilled oil/bitumen/lubricants downstream. The Contractor of

14 Lubricants- Contract 5/6/7 have been strictly instructed to divert the water flow through the campsites to avoid flow Collection of spills downstream. system to avoid pollution C.4 Air Pollution

Arrangements HMP are having approved stacks and water filters to contain fines. Water sprinkling is being carried out C.4.1 made to check at active working stretches to check dust emission from road surfaces. Contractors have been instructed Dust Pollution to keep the vehicles covered and to avoid overloading to avoid dust pollution. Emission from HMP are having approved stacks and water filters to contain fines. Vehicles are maintained regularly to Construction check extra emissions. Vehicles, Equipments Contractors have been instructed to carry out Environmental monitoring as per the prescribed C.4.2 and monitoring format of EMP to have an idea about the persisting Environmental Quality of the Machineries- operational area. Arrangements made to check Air pollution C.5 Noise Pollution Arrangements Vehicles and machinery are being maintained periodically to check extra noise generation. made to check Noise from Contractors have been instructed to carry out noise level monitoring as per the prescribed monitoring C.5.1 Vehicles, format of EMP to have an idea about the persisting noise level of the operational area. Equipments and Machineries C.6 Safety Personal Though PPEs in each of the contracts have been procured, distributed; only few of the workers seem to Safety be using those. Hence, each of the Contractors has been instructed to procure, distribute and motivate C.6.1 Measures workers towards their use. Importance of PPEs at Hot mix work sites and Concrete work sites have adopted for been emphasized. Laborers Risk from Only trained personnel with appropriate PPEs are allowed to handle electrical equipments and all the Electrical electival joints and live wires are kept concealed. Equipments- C.6.2 Safety arrangements made there to First Aid Has been provided in the campsites. Facility C.6.3 All the Contractors have been instructed to distribute First aid provisions at all active work sites to have a easy access by all workers. Also nearby Health Centres to be liasioned for first hand treatment provisions.

C.7 Labour Camp Management Accommodati Employees are being accommodated in rented premises having drinking water facility, kitchen facility, on drainage system, sewage system, Electricity provisions etc. in the nearby habitations. C.7.1 Details with amenities provided Potable Water C.7.2 Borewell water and public water supply is being used for drinking purpose and each of the Contractor

15 arrangement has been instructed to carry out detailed water quality testing As per IS:10500 to judge their suitability for drinking purpose. Sanitation and Septic tanks and soak pits are operational in accommodation sites. Each of the Contractor has been Sewage instructed to develop sanitation facilities, sewage systems to each of their plantsites. C.7.3 Systems planning and operation Waste Each of the Contractors has been instructed to look for disposal sites, plan and seek approval of CSC Disposal prior to operate the disposal site. Organic waste (Kitchen waste or so) are being disposed in pits and facilities those are composted. Soak pits and septic tanks are in operation. developed and their C.7.4 operation with

details of location and mode of operation C.8 Contractor’s Demobilization Clean-up Not yet Not yet Not yet Not yet Not yet Each of the Operations, necessitated, as necessitated, necessitated, necessitated, as necessitated, Contractors has Restoration the work is in as the work as the work the work is in as the work been instructed to and C.8.1 progress. is in is in progress. is in take up periodical Rehabilitation progress. progress. progress. clean up operation to their campsites.

Note: Evidenced below are some of the ongoing practices at each of the Contract packages towards which Contractors have been instructed to keep a check on the issues.

16 2.2 Photographs during implementation of work

Lack of PPEs at Concrete works site in Contract Package - II

Barricade at Contract Package - I for traffic management

Diversion Road without any Sing board in Package - I

17 Lack of PPEs at Concrete works site in Safety arrangement at CD structure (Contract-5) site in Jaitpur-Dhanori road

Contractor has been instructed to raise Contractor has been instructed to check oil stack height of HMP & to seek NOC from spill and to provide strengthened brick walls

PCB in (Contract-5) to the DG set an d to raise the height of DG stack (Contract-5)

18

Camp Site at Totem (Contract-6) needs Safety arrangement to CD construction check walls to check flow of aggregates sites remains still of a concern. Total down stream barricading to construction site is a must (Contract-6)

Lack of PPEs near concrete works in Labours accommodation at Totam camp Contract-6 is a concern. site is under construction. Appropriate sewage and sanitation facility need to be developed.

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Contractor of Contract-7 has been Safety arrangement to CD construction instructed to check flow of water through sites is still a concern in Contract-7. Total the campsite to check flow of spills barricading is must to such sites with retro downstream. reflective provisions.

Fines collected as slurry form the DG Sets of Contract-7 needs confinement to HMP needs safe disposal for which check noise dissemination. Contractor need to plan and dispose

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Safety arrangement to CD construction sites Contractor of Contract-8 has been is still a concern in Contract-8. Total instructed to procure, distribute and barricading is must to such sites with retro motivate workers towards use of reflective provisions. appropriate PPEs.

Contractor of Contract-7 has been instructed to keep a check on spills as it endangers downstream water resources

21 2.3 Coverage Objectives The Environment monitoring report of category A Roads (Almora – Bageshwar and Barechhina – Sheraghat) Phase – I’ of ‘USRIP’ Project was prepared between April to September 2008. The report aims to provide information on the progress of implementing the environmental management plan (EMP) and to evaluate the implementation of EMP for necessary improvement if needed. 2.4 Methodology Adopted The ‘Environment Monitoring Report’ was prepared based on the collection of relevant information/data from the PMU office on the basis of the desk review of the bid documents and the Environment Management Plan on one hand and simultaneously time to time monitoring and observation of civil works and environmental safeguards issues in the field on other. The Package wise date of signing on each Contract and contractor firms responsible for civil work construction is presented in Table – 2. Table - 4: Date of signing and name of firms for civil work construction

Contract(s) District(s) Date of Signing Name of the Firm(s) Package – I (Garhwal Zone) Contract-IA Uttarkashi 01/02/2008 Gagotri Enterprises Ltd B–158 Sector A - Mahanagar Lucknow (UP) Contract - I Dehradun 27/12/2007 Wood Hill Infrastructure Ltd 112 Ist Floor, Navyug Market Ghaziabad Contract- II Pauri 24/09/2007 R. G. Build Well, Engineering Limited R-15/84 Rajnagar Ghaziabad (UP) Contract-III Rudraprayag & Chamoli 06/11/2007 R. G. Build Well, Engineering Limited R-15/84 Rajnagar Ghaziabad (UP) Package – II (Kumaon Zone) Contract- V Udham Singh Nagar 21/09/2007 Wood Hill Infrastructure Ltd 112 Ist Floor, Navyug Market Gaziabad (UP) Contract-VI Nainital & Almora 27/09/2007 Gagotri Enterprises Ltd B–158 Sector A - Mahanagar Lucknow (UP) ContractVII Almora 14/09/2007 N.K.G. Infrastructure Ltd C-28 rajnagar Ghaziabad (UP) ContractVIII Almora, Bageshwar & 24/09/2007 Gagotri Enterprises Ltd B–158 Pithoragarh Sector A - Mahanagar Lucknow (UP) Contract-IX Champawat 03/10/2007 Dwarika N.K.G. (JB) B-7, sector 37 NOIDA (UP)

22 2.5 Environmental Statutory Clearances

As stated in the loan document, prior to commencing a civil work all the required statutory clearances have to be obtained. With regard to the phase I, there is no road project required environmental clearance from MOEF, although 2 road projects classified by ADB as “A” project. The environmental statutory clearances for Phase I are related with removal of trees that should be obtained from the State Forest Department (SFD) and clearances for some construction activities that need to be obtained from the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).

2.6 Removal of trees along the ROW: Trees will have to be removed within the existing ROW in some places to allow for widening of the carriageway, construction of shoulders or to meet current road safety standards. It should be noted that trees within the ROW are considered to be within the purview of the State Forest Department.

2.7 NOC of SFD & SPCB: The SPCB generally establishes a review panel and circulates the application for public review and comment in each affected district. At least one public hearing is held in each affected district following not less than 30 days notice in local and regional newspapers. A state-level hearing is also required, taking all comments received from the districts into account. Assuming acceptability, the SPCB issues a NOC. The SPCB’s NOC, as well as the Forest Department’s NOC, is required before MOEF action on any required EIA can be considered complete.

The environmental impact assessment reports prepared during project preparation have been utilized for preparation of documents to obtain clearance (NOC) from the State Forest Department, and State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), Water Board (WB) etc.

In the Phase – I, the IEE was prepared for all road sections except Almora – Bageshwar (contract VII), and Barechhina – Sheraghat (contract VIII), because these two roads passes through the ecological sensitive area called ‘Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary’ (Category – A Project under the ADB’s environmental assessment requirement).

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The forest clearance was only required for 3 roads under the contract V. The forest clearance was required as the project road is to be widened from single lane (3.75 m carriage way) to intermediate lane (5.5 m carriage way). There was no difficulty in obtaining the forest clearance from the concern department because the estimated compensatory amount (Rs. 29,08,753/=) for 3 roads (Contract – V) was directly paid to the concern department (DFO Ramnagar and DFO Haldwani). The length of the roads (kms) for which compensation was paid for forest clearance is presented in Table - 4. The NOC were obtained from the ‘State Pollution Control Board’ (SPCB) for Garhwal (for all road Contract Package 1), and Kumaon (contract package 2). The NOC was granting on 31 / 08 / 2006. There are some conditions as part of the issuance of NOC aside paying the administration fee (Rs. 300000/=) paid to directly to SPCB. There is so far no permit required for permission of using water from the ‘Water Board’. Table - 5: Compensation Paid for Forest Clearance under Phase – I Contract District Road From Road To Length Compensation Paid (Km) (Rs) Jaitpur Dhanori 10.80 92,753.00 Contract - Udham Dhakia- Mukund- 25.00 27,30,000.00 Singh V Gulabo Paiga Nagar Zafarpur Gularbhoj 13.80 86,000.00 Grand Total 49.60 Km Rs. 29,08,753.00

Similar for the pollution clearance ‘NOC’ was taken and amount paid for this task for all the roads of Package - I (Garhwal zone) and Package-II (Kumaon zone). The total amount paid to the concerned department (State Pollution Control Board) is presented in Table - 6.

24 Table - 6: Amount paid for administration fee to process the NOC (pollution clearance) to ‘SPCB’ under Phase – I S.No. Contract(s) District(s) Road From Road To Amount Paid (Rs) Package – I (Garhwal Zone) 1 Contract - I Dehradun Kalsi Chakrata 1,50,000/= 2 Uttarkashi Kuwa Kafnol 3 Contract - Naugaon Purola IA 4 Pauri Fatehpur Lansdowne 5 Contract - Pathrakhal Gethicheda 6 II Pauri- Khirsu Srinagar 7 Rudraprayag Jakholi Guptkashi 8 Contract - Rudraprayag Pokhri- III Karanprayag 9 Chamoli Nandprayag Ghat Package – II (Kumaon Zone) 10 Udham Singh Jaitpur Dhanori 1,50,000/= 11 Contract - Nagar Dhakia- Mukundpur-Paiga V Gulabo 12 Zafarpur Gularbhoj 13 Nainital Ranikhet Mohan 14 Contract - Almora Betalghat Bhatrojkhan 15 VI Nathuakhan Suyalbadi 16 Contract - Almora Almora Bageshwar VII 17 Almora & Barechhina Sheraghat Contract - Bageshwar 18 VIII Pithoragarh UdiyariBend Kanda 19 Udiyari Bend Thal 20 Contract - Champawat Pulla- Shilling IX Chamdeol 21 Lohaghat Chaumel 22 Thuligarh Bhairav mandir 23 Kakrali Thuligarh Total Amount Paid (Rs.) 3,00000/=

25 3. IMPLEMENTATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARD DURING CONSTRUCTION

Most of the civil work contracts were granted in the last quarter of 2007. The initial civil work construction has just recently started by contractors in 20 road sections of both the Packages (Garhwal and Kumaon Zones) except two roads of Contract - IA (Kuwa – Kafnol and Nagaon – Purola: Contract – IA because the tender being processed for award after negotiation). At the time when this monitoring report is prepared, almost the works are at the phase of setting up the office, initial mobilization of resources, and land clearing for the embankment.

3.1 Setting up site office and construction camp. The contractor site offices and storage facilities, and construction camps are not located nearby a water body (e.g. stream, pond etc). All the construction camps were completed with adequate water supply and sanitation facility

3.2 Mobilization of resources. In terms of human resources, almost workers have been hired at the project site. Only few staff comes from outside of project site, they are mostly occupied position as a site manager. The mobilization of heavy equipment has been done by all contractors, heavy equipment for land clearing was transported through existing road. So far, there is no destruction on existing road due to the movement of this heavy equipment. However, continue monitoring will be carried out to ensure that any destruction on existing road due to mobilization of the heavy equipment will be repaired immediately.

3.3 Site clearing. The site clearance for all roads involves only clearing from vegetation and mostly scrub, and small trees. The site clearance for road under the contract no V involves cutting significant number of trees. The tree compensation paid to the forest division. No blasting involve in site clearing activity. There was no any unforeseen environmental impact observed till to the date of preparing ‘Environment monitoring report. The proposed mitigation measures for activities at the current

26 construction state have been well implemented; there is no deviation from the proposed mitigation measures for handling the environmental impacts associated with construction activities at this initial stage.

27 Table - 7: Assessment of Contractors Activities at Construction Stage of Phase – I

Activities Mitigation Measures Action taken by the Contractors Major Responsibility Mitigation at project sites measures Implementati Monitoring adopted in EMP on are adequate or not? 1. Establishment As per the provision, the The construction camps established as per Contractor Engineers The mitigation of construction workers have LPG facility but the permission of EA (PWD) against and employer measures camps some times dead wooden pieces contracts II, III, V, VI, VII, VIII & IX. described in the are being used by the workers. Environmental Proper disposal of wastes is Monitoring Plan maintained. (EMP) are 2. Removal of There is no forest clearance The local vegetation is removing by the Forest Engineers adequate from vegetation (except Contract–V) but environmentally friendly approaches using Depatt. the necessary vegetation removed bioengineering techniques. The stretches of environmental through suitable bioengineering the candidate roads wherever is required. safeguards point techniques. of view. 3. Cutting of The confine cutting is only There is no provision of widening in the Contractor Engineers slopes from allowed in dry season. road thus slope cutting is not required. borrow areas 4. Quarrying Not required Not required Contractor Engineers 5. Crushing of Use of water sprinklers at stone The stones and other materials are being Contractor Engineers stones & crushing site. Regular transported and collecting at various project transportation maintenance of machineries and sites. vehicles. Confine stone crushing. 6. Road surfacing Use of bitumen emulsion At the time of operating machineries and Contractor Engineers wherever possible, use diesel disturbances created by the construction fuelled asphalt mixing plants works, public will be inform by the local when bitumen heating is news papers related to any disturbances in required. the roads. 7. Construction of The appropriate drainage The contractors are following the mitigation Contractor Engineers line & cross facilities and diversion measures wherever required in contracts II, and employer drainage structures will be constructed in V, VII, IX. The contractors has started

28 structures & the dry season. constructing cross drainage structures in bridges some stretches for which they have provided proper diversion of traffic. 8. Construction of At appropriate locations, the The contractors will follow the prescribed Contractor & Engineers retention walls quality construction of retention mitigation measures for all sites. So far in Employer wall will be kept in mind. contracts – II & VII. This work has been taken up by the Contractors in some stretches & the contractors have followed the mitigated measures as stipulated. 9. Operation of The machineries and tools will The contractor will follow the prescribed Contractor & Engineers machineries and be carefully handled near local mitigation measures for all sites. So far only Employer equipments habitation. in contract – V, the machines are being handled near the habitation and the contractors have provided separate parking place for machine with smooth flow of traffic and less disturbances to the people. 10. Water supply Misuse of community water The proper water supply from community Contractor & Engineers resources will be avoid. sources to the workers. Employer

29 4. Conclusion and Recommendations

On the basis of this monitoring, the following recommendations are suggested to strengthen the environmental performance under Phase - I of ‘USRIP’ project. 1. At the project preparation stage, the environmental assessment study was carried out for all road section. The bidding document was properly covered the environmental aspect by attaching the IEE, EIA, including its EMP. The contract for civil work has included the environmental requirement as special instruction for the contractor. 2. The required environmental statutory clearance have been obtained 3. There were no serious environmental problem associated with the early construction works especially on establishment of site offices, construction camps, mobilization of resources, and land clearing. Mitigation measures as stated in the EMP have been implemented without any difficulties. 4. For the Almora-Bageshawr and Barachina-Shareghat roads, there was also no serious environmental problem.

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